Targeted Violence Across the Prairies
A comprehensive overview of the evolving landscape of targeted violence, extremism, and hate across Alberta, Saskatchewan, & Manitoba between January 2019 and February 2025.
Measuring Progress in a CVE Program: A 3-Year Longitudinal Case Study
Authors: Michael King, Michele St-Amant, Sara Doering Publication Date: February 2025 The notion that psychosocial interventions can help individuals disengage from violent extremism is intuitively compelling; however, there is little evidence to substantiate their effectiveness. This lack of evidence sustains skepticism towards these programs, which in turn jeopardizes their continued funding as well as their…
Run Silent, Run Deep: Examining Right-Wing Extremism in the Military
Authors: Amarnath Amarasingam, Michele St-Amant & David Jones Publication Date: June 1, 2024 In this article published in Perspectives on Terrorism, OPV researchers collaborated with Amarnath Amarasingam to examine the intersection of right-wing extremism and military service. Through interviews with former extremists who have military backgrounds, the article explores how military experience interacts with far-right extremism.…
Assessing Person-Centered Outcomes in Women and Children Returning from Violent Extremist Conflict
This discussion paper published by the United States Institutes for Peace presents a person-centered approach to outcomes for rehabilitation and reintegration (R&R) programs targeting returning women and children. Identifying and assessing outcomes are the intended accomplishments of these programs, and are key for understanding change processes and developing strong programs. Little guidance currently exists regarding…
Qollateral: The Impact of QAnon on Loved Ones and the Potential for P/CVE Programs to Help
In a new article published in the Journal for Deradicalization, researchers explored the impact of QAnon on loved ones. The findings indicate that younger, immediate family members experience the greatest negative mental health impacts.
Hate in Alberta: Problems to Solutions
Hate and hate-motivated incidents in Alberta continue to be a problem that needs addressing.
We surveyed over 1,300 Albertans and conducted interviews with over 75 community members to help us address the problem of hate in our province. This report summarizes our findings and recommendations.
The 5R Framework: A Best Practices Model for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Women and Children Returning from Violent Extremist Contexts
Countries must determine how to manage the return of women and children from formerly ISIS-controlled territories. We propose a framework for supporting returning individuals operating across ‘5 Rs’: Repatriation, Resettlement, Reintegration, Rehabilitation, and Resilience. In this brief, we describe these 5R domains.
I. Introduction: Hate, Extremism, & Terrorism in Alberta, Canada, & Beyond
This report summarizes the scale and threat of hate, extremism, and terrorism within Alberta and Canada from 2019–2022.
II. Ideologically-Motivated Violent Extremism: Hate, Extremism, and Terrorism in Alberta, Canada, & Beyond
Ideological motivated violent extremism (IMVE) encompasses grievances and ideas that have traditionally been described as ranging from far-left extremism to far-right extremism. While the activity level of some IMVE categories appears to be rising since 2019, these have been counter-balanced by a decline or plateauing of other forms of extremism in the province.
III. Religiously-Motivated Violent Extremism: Hate, Extremism, & Terrorism in Alberta, Canada, & Beyond
Religiously motivated violent extremism (RMVE) refers to a set of grievances that encourages violence in a “spiritual struggle against a perceived immoral system.” RMVE actors can only address this struggle through the act of violence.
IV. Conspiracies & Hate Crimes: Hate, Extremism, & Terrorism in Alberta, Canada, & Beyond
Although conspiracy theories and the individuals and groups that believe them are traditionally not lumped together with violent extremist organizations, we have chosen to do so for several reasons. Individuals on the fringe of some groups have conducted violence in recent years. Additionally, several established extremist organizations have adopted and incorporated parts of different conspiracy theories into their ideologies.
V. Conclusion: Hate, Extremism, & Terrorism in Alberta, Canada, & Beyond
Understanding and awareness of local issues is a critical first step in preventing hate-motivated violence, extremism, and terrorism. These issues require a whole-of-society response where policymakers, law enforcement, and communities work towards prevention.